3 answers
Dior
Student
Huntsville, Alabama
1
Question
Updated
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What was a turning point in your early business journey that changed how you approached leadership or growth?
I’m an Accounting and Finance major with a strong interest in both entrepreneurship and the broader world of business. I’m curious about how early experiences shape long-term success. #Spring25
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3 answers
Di An
Consulting
10
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Di’s Answer
Hi Dior,
There were a few points for me. The first was working in a start up as my first job out of undergrad, I minored in Entrepreneurship and really wanted to be in a start up environment. Learning from and watching the leaders around me gave me a great understanding of what is required in a start up environment, but also what doesn't work as a start up. I gathered a lot of information about what leadership styles resonated and what I wanted to do and what to avoid as a leader. My MBA experience was also great to help me shape my leadership style and also learn from others that come from diverse backgrounds and the leadership styles they brought. I had great opportunities to lead small teams, then bigger teams, then organizations, that helped me shape and refine my leadership style.
The biggest thing I've learned is your style may evolve over time and you may also adapt to the people around you and what they need in a leader. So it's great to always be agile but also stay true to your core.
Hope this helps!
There were a few points for me. The first was working in a start up as my first job out of undergrad, I minored in Entrepreneurship and really wanted to be in a start up environment. Learning from and watching the leaders around me gave me a great understanding of what is required in a start up environment, but also what doesn't work as a start up. I gathered a lot of information about what leadership styles resonated and what I wanted to do and what to avoid as a leader. My MBA experience was also great to help me shape my leadership style and also learn from others that come from diverse backgrounds and the leadership styles they brought. I had great opportunities to lead small teams, then bigger teams, then organizations, that helped me shape and refine my leadership style.
The biggest thing I've learned is your style may evolve over time and you may also adapt to the people around you and what they need in a leader. So it's great to always be agile but also stay true to your core.
Hope this helps!
Bob Burton
Consultant
88
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Bob’s Answer
There are several pivot points in time and circumstances that changed my view of leadership.
As a young Army Officer, one learns that being responsible and accountable for the lives of a team or even hundreds of men/women, that leadership is earned. And, ultimately comes from the acceptance of those being led. Having a title, placing one above others, does not automatically garner respect or acceptance.
In Business Management, one learns that not all subordinates proceed to do what a leader might expect. In those cases, a leader will acknowledge that some folks do what a leader inspects, rather than expects. Follow-up becomes key to success.
As a Business Executive, responsible for thousands of employees, one learns to not focus on more than five strategic critical initiatives. Otherwise, focus will be too stretched to be effective.
At the same time, an executive (Chairman/ President) with oversight of experienced executives (President, Vice Presidents), must learn that should he/she give to them tactical business actions with free rein, that the subordinate executives should do the same with their subordinates (Directors/Managers). Otherwise, one might discover that the President/Vice President is stifling the creativity and entrepreneurial capabilities of those employees who are closer to the work to be done.
Finally, an experienced, effective leader must also be an effective, successful follower. A leader will surround himself/herself with highly talented subordinates. As the focus for critical business initiatives shift, based upon knowledge, skill and effectiveness in a specific area of competency, a leader will appoint a subordinate who has the best chance of managing the effort. The higher level executive, will follow the directions of his/her subordinate and be led by them.
As a young Army Officer, one learns that being responsible and accountable for the lives of a team or even hundreds of men/women, that leadership is earned. And, ultimately comes from the acceptance of those being led. Having a title, placing one above others, does not automatically garner respect or acceptance.
In Business Management, one learns that not all subordinates proceed to do what a leader might expect. In those cases, a leader will acknowledge that some folks do what a leader inspects, rather than expects. Follow-up becomes key to success.
As a Business Executive, responsible for thousands of employees, one learns to not focus on more than five strategic critical initiatives. Otherwise, focus will be too stretched to be effective.
At the same time, an executive (Chairman/ President) with oversight of experienced executives (President, Vice Presidents), must learn that should he/she give to them tactical business actions with free rein, that the subordinate executives should do the same with their subordinates (Directors/Managers). Otherwise, one might discover that the President/Vice President is stifling the creativity and entrepreneurial capabilities of those employees who are closer to the work to be done.
Finally, an experienced, effective leader must also be an effective, successful follower. A leader will surround himself/herself with highly talented subordinates. As the focus for critical business initiatives shift, based upon knowledge, skill and effectiveness in a specific area of competency, a leader will appoint a subordinate who has the best chance of managing the effort. The higher level executive, will follow the directions of his/her subordinate and be led by them.
Jason White
Lead Product Manager- Network Security
179
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hey Dior,
Great question. For me it was when I was a sophomore in college and I took Management information systems as a course. It was the first time I was exposed to the reality that I could work in the technology field. I had obviously taken a lot of courses in my life up to that point but it was the first time I recall not wanting to put a text book down because it was just so interesting. It spoke of the rapid change in technology and how it impacted every part of our lives. It set the foundation for the concept of continuous learning which is notorious in tech and to cultivate curiosity. Those are things that I've carried with me throughout my career. Always looking to learn something new and different. Pushing my limits. From internships where you get to dig in and learn about the company culture, the products they sell, the business model in a few short months. To a career where you're reminded "what got me to this point won't get me beyond this point" Thus you have to push to learn new things and how to approach and solve new problems. I approach things based on "what do I want to learn?" and seek out experiences that enable that growth.
Great question. For me it was when I was a sophomore in college and I took Management information systems as a course. It was the first time I was exposed to the reality that I could work in the technology field. I had obviously taken a lot of courses in my life up to that point but it was the first time I recall not wanting to put a text book down because it was just so interesting. It spoke of the rapid change in technology and how it impacted every part of our lives. It set the foundation for the concept of continuous learning which is notorious in tech and to cultivate curiosity. Those are things that I've carried with me throughout my career. Always looking to learn something new and different. Pushing my limits. From internships where you get to dig in and learn about the company culture, the products they sell, the business model in a few short months. To a career where you're reminded "what got me to this point won't get me beyond this point" Thus you have to push to learn new things and how to approach and solve new problems. I approach things based on "what do I want to learn?" and seek out experiences that enable that growth.
Jason,
Thank you for sharing that. Your experience with “what do I want to learn?” really gave me a new perspective!
Dior